Four soldiers assigned to Fort Hood were among 11 men arrested during a recent undercover operation targeting adults accused of attempting to solicit sex from minors online, according to Texas authorities. The arrests resulted from a three-day operation conducted in Bell County by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and several partner agencies. Investigators posed as underage teenagers online and communicated with suspects who allegedly believed they were arranging meetings with children between the ages of 13 and 16. Authorities announced the results of the operation on May 4, with charges varying among the suspects but including online solicitation of a minor and related offenses under Texas law. According to Texas DPS, officers used online platforms to pose as children and engage with suspects who allegedly initiated sexually explicit conversations and attempted to arrange in-person meetings. When suspects arrived at predetermined locations expecting to meet minors, law enforcement officers arrested them. Authorities said that the operation focused on protecting children from exploitation and disrupting potential trafficking and abuse offenses before they could occur. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Texas DPS Criminal Investigation Division, Texas Highway Patrol, the Bell County District Attorney's Office, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The participation of Army investigators reflected the presence of active-duty soldiers among those targeted during the operation. Soldiers Who Were Arrested Authorities identified the soldiers as Spc. Xavier Alexander Barreto, Pfc. Christopher Matias, Staff Sgt. Samsus Moise Perfection St. Loth, and Staff Sgt. Ramon Antonio Rivera-Colon. The ranks of the accused soldiers range from junior enlisted personnel to non-commissioned officers. The inclusion of two staff sergeants is notable because non-commissioned officers are responsible for supervising and mentoring junior soldiers and maintaining standards of conduct within Army units. At the time authorities announced the arrests, neither DPS